By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has called on Australia, Bulgaria, Eritrea, South Korea, Niger and Senegal to open new avenues of collaboration for the benefit of Zambians and citizens of those countries.
President Lungu said when he received letters of credence from one High Commissioner and five Ambassadors yesterday at State House that there was need to find new ways of collaborating with those countries.

. Lungu

The President received letters from Australian High Commissioner to Zambia Suzanne McCourt, Bulgarian Ambassador to Zambia Katya Deleva and Eritrean Ambassador Salit Omar Abdul.
Others are South Korean Ambassador to Zambia Kwon Yong-Kyu, Niger Ambassador Rakiatou Makayi and Senegalese Ambassador Nomar Diop.
Mr Lungu said Zambia had strong bonds, cooperation and partnerships with the said countries.
“As you commence your tour of duty, bring with you new impetus and work towards new avenues of collaboration,” he said.
On Australia, Mr Lungu said Zambia acknowledged the technical assistance and investment in education, mining and health sectors.
To improve on this, Government was in the process of re-opening the Zambian High Commission in Canberra and a High Commissioner designate, George Zulu has already been chosen for the Embassy.
President Lungu said the deputy premier of West Australia would soon be visiting the country to enhance these ties. Mr Lungu said Zambia also wanted to enhance relations at various levels with Bulgaria and increase political and economic ties with Eritrea.
Mr Lungu said he had taken note of the message from the Eritrean Ambassador on the need to lift sanctions against that country.
On South Korea, President Lungu said the country was one of the leading economies of Asia which Zambia could learn from.
He said Zambia needed to improve its ties with Niger at various levels to yield maximum benefits.
Mr Lungu said Senegal had a reputation in Africa as one of the successful democracies and it was admired for that.
He said Government was ready to cooperate with the dignitaries and help in any way it could during the course of their duties.
Ms McCourt said Australia welcomed Zambia’s re-opening of the High Commission in Canberra to build on the long standing relationship between the two countries while Ms Deleva said Bulgaria was looking forward to strengthened ties.
Mr Abdul said Eritrea suffered many sanctions that should be lifted and Zambia should look into the matter.
The South Korean Ambassador said the 25-year relationship that Zambia and South Korea had should bear more fruits and be accelerated.
Ms Makayi of Niger called for a joint permanent commission with Zambia and that country while Dr Diop of Senegal said Senegal appreciated that Zambia was host to many Senegalese.